Master trainer John Size hopes a Tuesday morning hit-out will ensure an “enthusiastic” Sight Success is in top condition come Sunday’s Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1,200m) at Sha Tin.
Runner-up in December’s Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m), Sight Success has since won the Group Three Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (1,000m), finished third in the Group One Centenary Sprint Cup (1,200m) and was last seen running fourth in March’s Group One Al Quoz Sprint (1,200m) down the Meydan straight on Dubai World Cup night.
In his first trial since returning from the Middle East, Sight Success jumped nicely under Vagner Borges before travelling outside the speed over the all-weather track 1,050m and coasting across the line in third.
“He’s been to Dubai and back, so I thought a trial might help him present on race day. The way he jumped, he looked pretty enthusiastic. Actually, he’s been doing that this season, he’s been beginning very fast. I think he looks the way he should be and hopefully, he can run well,” Size said, confirming he is happy with how his six-year-old has returned from his overseas adventure.
“Looking at him today, he looked like he’s still got the enthusiasm for racing, and it would appear he hasn’t done any damage travelling to Dubai.”
Sight Success, who will be ridden by James McDonald, is a $12 third pick in overseas fixed-odds markets in a race where Lucky Sweynesse is a dominant favourite ($1.4) and reigning race champion Wellington is at $6.
“The very good horses are still there and so far they’ve proved to be better than him, but maybe one day we might be able to pinch one. You never know,” Size said of Sight Success’ chances.
Size also has Courier Wonder in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize, while Waikuku rounds out his feature-race hand in the Champions Mile among his dozen entries for the marquee meeting.
The 11-time champion trainer is a little lighter off at Happy Valley on Wednesday night with only four runners, but in Howdeepisyourlove he saddles up perhaps the most interesting runner on the card.
A fast-finishing second behind Victor The Winner last start in a Sha Tin contest where his conqueror was able to control proceedings from the front, Howdeepisyourlove returns to the city circuit – where he has won his past two starts – for the Class Two Seoul Handicap (1,200m).
“It’s nice to see him back at the Valley. He ran a great race last time. Let’s hope he’s kept his form and he can return to the winner’s box,” said jockey Karis Teetan, who has ridden Howdeepisyourlove in his past five starts and will partner the three-year-old from gate five at the midweek meeting.
Owen hopes the Sprint Prize runner he owns goes even better than the one he sold
“I thought there were a few things that went against him. From the gates, Nervous Witness sort of knocked him and broke his momentum. I thought considering how the race was run, I thought he ran a great race. It was nice to see him quicken up like that.
“I’m sure John Size knows what he’s doing,” Teetan added of Howdeepisyourlove’s 11-day backup. “We’re happy with the horse and he pulled up well, so we go again. He’s got a nice draw, a nice weight on his back, so if he gets the nice run, I’m sure he’s going to be competitive.”
Teetan has one big-race ride to look forward this weekend, jumping aboard another galloper last seen in Dubai – Pierre Ng Pang-chi’s Glorious Dragon – in the Champions Mile.
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